World Cup concession prices swing from $3 pizza to $20-plus beer
AP reported wide gaps in World Cup stadium food and drink prices, with Atlanta holding low prices while some fans faced steep beer tabs.
By Maya Lindqvist · Senior Technology Correspondent
3 min read
World Cup fans are finding that the cost of eating and drinking at matches depends heavily on the host city, according to the Associated Press. The differences matter for supporters already paying for tickets, travel and hotels, with some beer prices reaching levels that surprised international visitors.
AP reported that concession menus across World Cup venues in the U.S., Canada and Mexico range from low-priced staples in Atlanta to specialty items aimed at fans willing to spend more. In Miami, offerings included a $75 caviar-topped tray of fried hash brown patties and a five-pound chicken-and-cheese empanada priced at $40, AP said.
Beer drew some of the sharpest complaints, according to AP. Thomas Schüller, a German engineer attending a match in Toronto, paid 24.25 Canadian dollars, about $17 or 15 euros, for a beer and told AP the price was about triple what he pays at home.
Schüller called the price unfair, but told AP it did not stop him from buying the drink. AP reported that beers in Europe often cost roughly 4 or 5 euros, making North American stadium prices a surprise for some visiting supporters.
Menus differ by market
FIFA sets detailed rules for World Cup operations, and AP reported that concessionaires also work under guidelines. Prices and menus still vary by city, meaning fans can have very different experiences from one venue to another.
In Los Angeles, AP said fans could buy a $22 Twinkie cheeseburger that is not dessert-themed: the burger is topped with a bacon-wrapped jalapeño stuffed with brisket and cream cheese. In Guadalajara, Mexico, rib-eye tacos were offered for $8, according to AP.
Vancouver’s menu included short rib poutine and a maple bacon smokie, AP reported. Miami leaned into local food, with pan con lechon, a Cuban-style pork sandwich with citrus mojo sauce on a toasted Cuban loaf, and the large Empanada Mundial.
Sodexo Live provides food and beverage service in both Vancouver and Miami, according to AP. Zach Williams, Sodexo Live’s vice president of operations at Miami Stadium, told AP the goal was for visitors to feel they were getting a Miami experience.
Atlanta keeps low-price promise
Atlanta stood out for cheaper stadium food, AP reported. Falcons owner and stadium operator Arthur Blank had pledged that the low concession prices long used at the venue would remain in place for the World Cup.
AP said Atlanta Stadium sold pizza slices for $3, 32-ounce sodas for $4, cheeseburgers for $5 and chicken tenders with fries for $6. Beer was available for as little as $8.
Jonathan Arango, a 33-year-old fan from Greenville, South Carolina, told AP he attended an Atlanta match with his wife, daughter and father. He said the family spent about $50 on three orders of tacos, a slice of pizza, two waters and a Coke, a total he viewed favorably after paying for match tickets.
Mexico City showed the other end of the range, according to AP. The daily minimum wage there is 315.04 pesos, or about $18, while some beers at Mexico City Stadium were selling for 299 to 310 pesos, AP reported.
AP said those beer prices were about twice what fans would normally pay at the same stadium outside the World Cup. Schüller still described the tournament as a rare experience, telling AP that “the entire football world is having fun.”
This story draws on original reporting from Fortune.